Method of controlling the feed of cigarette tobacco in cigarette-making machines



, w. FJ-GRUPE METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE FEED OF- CIGARETTE TOBACCO INGIGARETTEMAKI'M MACHINES H I 2 Sheets-$hoot 1 Filed Oct. 20 1925 W. F.GRUPE union or c ROLLINGTHB P n yuan-1': j

TOBACCO CIGARETTE IA 6 CHINBS Filed Oct. 20 1 925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 emer; CONTROLLING T innfi a Patented Aug.'1 2 1930 i w nnrm n entrain! rm nvnsigijnew w; tasfsxenoaro ENDLESS BE T con- L R TIQ 0 NEW Q K, IAQOBP ATI N WF OB L,

M HINE llpplieation iiledOctober 2o, 19 25.'= Serial no. 63335;]

p This invention relatesl-to the'umethodofh controlling thefeed-ofcigarette tobaccoin cigarette making machines. I

A featureof my inventionis the provision of suitable: steps forfeedingcigarettetobacco I to theci'garette paper, which is sup 'lled'andw fed pursuant tothe usual practice" y means of a tube belt orthelike in the formation of what is known as a cigarette'rod,lwherebythe feed of the tobacco effects the production a of cigaretteswhich'average the predeter mined weight ofit obacco content required bylaw or" in conformity 1 to anyudesiredweight 1 v i of hopper providedwith asuitable form of of tobaccocontent. i 1

In*'the practice heretoforeharried-out g V Y 1s fed to an' apronindefinite quantities "of this and. foreign countries, the cigarette to=bacco'fed into the hopper is cardedbyone iormore sets of suitable"carding rolls "or like mechanisin 'and the feardedtobacco is deliv eredcontinuously to onesor r'norei'aprons for delivery; to the endlessfstripof; cigarette 1 pa- 7 per, driven, by frictionalvcontactonasocalled tubebelt at a" selected speed, where after the tube 'belt, *cigarettepapenand tobacco are passed through a'so called -former or forming shoetoroll the cigarette paper and thereby roll cigarette tobacco while theresulting overlapping edge of the ciga-V rette paper is suppliedwithtsuitable jadhesive, thus forming thejcigarette rod,which cigaretterod is cut by a suitablesevering device into the individual cigarettes.-By such procedure, the weight of the carded cigarette tobacco variesfrom time to time, owing to' variations in the weight of thetobacco fedinto the mechanism, and "owing also "to the i differences in weight orspecificgravity of the e leaf,stem and other parts of the tobacco, and

further owing to i variations of weight or specific'gravity of differentgrades of tobacco in the usual blended charges; further variations arise'owing' to the iformation of air pockets within the tobaccocharge andother: interruptions in feeding the tobacco charge to the cardingdevice. i

It has also been proposedto deli ver into other conta'inerthe taxstampis applied;

seekto attain a uniform delivery to the card Z i ing devicegofthetobacco charge within the;

hopper ;"however, such procedureis eflec-ted" by the "use ofmore or lesscumbersomemachinery for intermittently charging the to- 'baccowithin thehopper, and theresults are i depen'd'ent upon factors "of variation ofweight or specific gravity of-the various conf stituent parts-andnotwithstanding produce variation in the average weight of the formedcigarettes; a v r a 'TPursuant to my invention, theci arette tobacco isfed intoany form of suitab e type carding mechanism and the carded;tobacco predetermined weight and the carded 'toi "bacco is deliveredcontinuously from such apronto the cigarette paper in-continuous amountof substantially constant predeter mined weight, wherebfyft'heresulting" to bacco content perunit'leng'th of the cigarette rod'is ofsubstantially constant weight and substantially uniform: weight oftobacco.

carton, 'box or' other container for the cigarettes when packed, towhich carton,box or itliewresulting; individual cigarettes possess -IThe uniform'weight isselected to correspond": to the desired totalweightof tobacco in thfe' Pursuant to the most preferred form of i myinvention, the carded cigarette tobacco is 'fed to the pan of a scale'orequivalent weighing v device, which-is set to tip at a predeterminedweightyand'the' contents of"the-pan are deposited'upon the apron, whichis progressedeat a uniformpredetermined speed,

the pan'of the scale being again filled and its contents likewisedeposited in predetermined r time relationto the preceding lot dumped on1 the apron, such weighing and dumping being continued successively. Thepan of the scale" is preferablyiof greater length than its'width andtheefl'eetive rolls of the" carding mocha- 'nism" are of'a lengthcorresponding to the:

the hopper and thus to the carding mecha hopper at-a predeterminedlevel, to thereby length of the pan, whereby the carded to bacco isdelivere'd into thepan to form a mass havingits length'greater than itswidth cor-" 'respondingjto thel'ength and width of the] pan, and alsoresulting in" each deposit of 7 quantity 7 "Furt er features and objectsof the invenspective, an assembly'of any suitable hopper tion will bemore fully understood from the following detail description and theaccompap ying drawings, in which i 1g. 1 isa diagrammaticview,showing incentral vertical section and partly, in peri provided with a suitablecarding mechanism,

a weighing scale, and an apron and appurtenant devices for feeding thecarded tobacco tq'an indefinite length of cigarette paper,

pursuantto my invention;

Fi 2 is a side elevation of theho per zr z P ing scale and appurtenantdevices illustrated in Fig. 1; the view in Fig. 2 is taken onthe sideofthe hopper opposite to that of a 'F' 1; and r 13. 3 is a sectionalelevation on line Refining to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1andv 2, the hopper may be of suitable form and provided with a suit-.

ab set of oardi 'dev1ccs,-such as the card ing rolllil with w ich coactsthe pin roll 12; the direction of rotation of the carding roll 11 isindicated by the arrow 13 and the dirootionof the pin roll 12' in theopposite direction, as shown by the arrow 14. The roll licence as afeeding roll, andis rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 16.The

' 11:11:17 isany suitable type of agitating roll.

The shaft of the carding roll 11 is indicated at; 18 and is suitablymounted in bearings at its opposite ends'in the opposite side walls of 4the p trated. The shaft of the pin roll 12 1s indiper 10, one wall 19only being illuscated at 20. The shaft of the feeding roll isindicatedat 21 and the shaft'of the agitating roll'17 at 22, both ofwhich shafts are similarly rotatively mounted at their respective oposite-ends'in the hopper 10.

The EOTPPB! 10 is otherwise of any suitable arrangement, such as theprovision of the i as belt 23 serving as the effective bottom of thehopper 10 and mounted on and driven by suitable pulleys 24, 25 in thedirection of the arrow 26 to move the upper and efiective length of thebelt 23 in the direction of the snow. 27- nd thereby feed the charge 28of cigarette tobacco to the carding roll 11. The bottom plate 29,preferablyof. concave form on its face which is directed toward thecarding roll 11, is disposed in close adjacency therewith, to-preventany dropping of the V r V C fit'ttQtbbacco ag-v at all times the desireduniform elements 1 corresponding tobacco from the hopper prior to beingcarded by the carding mechanism. 7

The pin roll 12 when in its operative position relative to the cardingroll 11 effects in the usual manner the delivery of the carded tobaccofromthe carding mechanism, indicated bythe stream 30, and the paddlewheel 31 disposed pursuant to the usual practice toaet upon the-streamof carded tobacco.

However, pursuant to my invention, the

shaft 20 of the pin roll 12 is displaceable to movelthe pinr'oll 12 intoand out of operative relation with the carding roll 11 testtain the oh'ctshereinafter more fully set forth and t us efiect the formation andinterruption of the stream 30 of the carded tobacco. 1

Upon being carded,the ei ette ammo is weighed as by means of a am scale,the

a pan of which is indicated at 32 and the adjustable'weight at 33.Preferably, the pan 32 is of multiple compartment form, such as ofthreecompartments indicated respectively 323 32", 32": the pan 32 may bemounted on oppositely disposed studs 34 respectively projectin andbearin in suitable recesses in they'o ie 35 of the cam 36 of the scale.

The recesses of the yoke 35am indicated at 37 and in the instance arepreferably trial gular of equal sides, the bottom side, one 37' beingsubstantially horizontal and the lateral faces at each end of the stud34 "form similarly equilateral triangles, the sides of the equilateraltriangle being disposedv to locate the respective compartments 32, 32",32 vertical i. e. reoeiving'position respectively. At one .sideof theyoke 35., I provide the tripped member 38, secured to the stud 34 atthat side, the tripped member 38 comprising in number to the number ofthe compartments 32', 32", 32', in

thisinstance three. I provide the tripping member 39 mounted on asuitable shaft 40.

and rotated continuously as hereinafter set.

forth,5to coact with the tripped member 38 to dump the contents ofthefilled compartme'nt ofthe pan 32 and to move the next and unfilledco'mpartmentfof the pan 32 to its charging position. 7 a

As one sui ble means for. operating the shaft 400i the tripping member39, I pro vide the gear lldrivenin the direction of the arrowAfl'by thedrivengear 43 which is rotated in the direction indicatedby the arrow44. The shaft 45 of the driven gen 63 is continuously driven by anysuitable means at. a uniform. speed cohformin to the rate of travelofthe apron '16 on w h the rig rette tobacco is deposited on successivelots from the compartments ofrthe pan 8% 'One form ofs'noh drive maycomprise thebeveledigear 47, meshing-with the beveled par 48 ontheshaft49 of the driving roll 50 of theapronlfib The shaft 49 of thedriving ro l 50in rotated lymry suitable gelling mi V tobaccoand-thepreviousrdeposits toward thei p g; into thehopper 62,: orequivalent,'-and therea At the delivery end ojfthe apro11 .46 ,I pro5j Ip I tobacco, deposited upon the cigarette paper .53

l and thus form cigarettes having substantially otherwise' bythe driveishaftj'of the cigarette making machine proper, as will j be under-Qstood by those skilledfinthe art, to thereby drive the apron 46 ata-desiredrate of travel- I in the direction of the arrow..51 see Figs;-1 and3, in correspondence to therate ,oftravel in the .direction of thearrow 52 of the'ciga;v

rette paper 53, effected by meansioithetube belt 54 which is determinedby the i drive of p the: usual friction pulley which engages thetubebelt and-is driven ;at.the proper speed. from the drive of. thecigarette making' ma' chine L Figs; 1 sion'of deposits ofthecardeducigarettetobacco Which have been dumped-- at the: sueof the pan32 andthe elements vof the carding mechanism show the final-deposit .61to have been discharged from the compartment 325*, and the nextcompartment 32* moved to the proper position for receiving the stream ofcarded-tobacco 30." In theinterim, the apron; 46 has been moved in thedirectionof the ar} .row 51 to progress the deposit 6110f cardeddelivery endofthe apron 146 vide suitable means for deliveringifrom thedeposits I ofv carded tobacco onri-the apron 46 into a suitable'hopper62 or equivalent for. I

,The 10118365, 67 are driven. from the drive of.

controlling and directing the "delivered stream 63 of tobacco onto theindefinitelen'gth of cigarette paper 53, which passes in, t-he usualmanner through thegu1de64or equivalent I, i U One formof such deliverycontrol means comprises the roll 65 provided; with subst'an-ftiallyradially extending pins 66 of relatively short and a uniformlength of projection for contacting with the upper surface of the apron46, to thereby hold theportions of the deposited lots of tobacco onthebelt 46 until substantially at the very delivery end of'the "belt 46,and further comprises the roller provided with the uniformly extending.pins 68 for controllingthe portions of the carded tobacco deliveredfromthe IQSPGOUVQidQ-L posited lots at the successive stages of travel0f the apron 46' to its delivery end.

V posits of cardedtobacco dumped onthe apron 46 are uniformlyaligned atan angleto' the" direction 51.015 longitudinal 'travelfof the apron 46,whereby there is presented t'o'fthe delivery control means 65, 67atsubstantia-lly all times two or other uniform number of such depositedlots. In the position of these livery control-'means65, 67 is-omitted 3fon'thesake offclarity),j it will be observed thatpoiftionsfofithedeposited lots .55, 56 are ijointlydelivered into the-hopper 62, and as--suchl action'z 'continues, a'portion of the deposited lot 57willattain itsstage of delivery simultaneously.with-portions ofgt-hedeposited 1 lots 56, I55 until ultimately the whole of theremainder ofthe deposited ilot'55uwillhave beendischarged fromthe apron46, a similarfrom theap'ron 46. 1 a

serves in thenature ofa cardingqroll, in

actionvtakesiplace. for the jremjainderfof the; V

deposited lots 56, 57 including after a stage at whichba portion ofthenext-deposited Jot;

58" is simultaneously dischargedtherewitln It will be further observedthat the rollwhich operationithe tobacco progressedby V the apron'intocontact with thepins 66 of the 1 roll 65 from therespective spaceddeposited lots, such as the lots 55, 56,*are distributed substantiallyuniform about the peripheryaand longitudinally of the direction oflength of the roll 65, and that theroll 67 servesin the na'tureof a pinroll, similar: to the aforesaid pin roll 12, toefi'ectthe removaly ofthe tobacco fromthej P11182660f .the roll 65 a substantiall 1 uniformly3 along the ,direction'Q oflengtho "theperiphery of the roll'65, afndandthereby substantiallyuniformly distrib ate the tobacco in the stream 63discharged by; substantially,uniformly distribute, the

uniform content of tobacco per unit length.

the'Icigarette making machineor the driveof.

Weightof tobacco conveyed in the form of de- I posits spaced from one'another on theapronr; 46 per unitof the length of the apron 46'. It:

will be noted that the disposition of the de posits on the apron 46 atan angle to the direction of travelof the apron 46 facilitates theequalization of distribution of the contents of the spaced deposits onthe roll 65 and averages up anyivariations of specific gravity of thetobaccoowing: to the. presence of relativelyheavyleaflor of stems orthelike.

, For the pur' oseof controllingthe depositions-ofrlots o substantiallyuni'form weight; 7 of carded tobacco on theapron 46 or equiv- It Will benoted that} therespective dea1ent, I provide suitable means foreffecting the flow 30 of carded tobacco into acompartmentiof thepa'n'32of the scale 31 and to in- 'terrupt suchstream 30 at the instant offilling cally controlled parts including the contact 1 70 insulatinglycarried by t e am 36 of the scale, which contact is connected to theconductor 71 to one terminal of the battery72 or other suitable sourceof electrical energy, the

other terminal of the battery 72 being connected by the conductor 73 tothe terminal 74 of the coil of the solenoid 75, the opposite ter- Iminal 76 of which is connected by the conductor 77 to the contact 78co-operating with the upon the de-energi'zation of the coil of theaforesaid contact 70.

The contact 78 is mounted on a suitable supoither of insulating materialor electri @cally insulatedby means of suitable insulation; I haveindicated the bracket 79 which" is mounted on and extends above the base80 of the scale 31 as one form of support for the contact 78. 1

The stop 79 for the beam 36 of the scale is preferably adjustable tothereby regulate the spacing between the contacts 70, 78, when acompartment of the pan 32 is atthe stage of being filled. Upon eachcompartment being filled to the amount regulated by the weight 33, thebeam 36 of the scale istilted on the contact 70 is moved into contactwith the fixed contact 78, thereby closing the circuit through thesource 72 and energizing the coil of the solenoid 75,'and therebythrowing the pin wheel12 from its position'of operativeness relative tothe carding roll 11 to a ition of non-operation. I

e gears 41, 43 ma be suitably rotatably mounted at the ends 0 theirrespective shafts in oppositely disposed, vertically extendinngstandards 7 9 (one only being shown.) 'secu toabase79.

As. one suitable form of mounting for the pin wheel 12, its shaft 20 ofthe pin whcel12 is secured to one end ofthe angular arm 81. The arm 81is freely mounted intermediate its length on an end of the shaft 82 ofthe ulle 82, to provide pivotal movement of the, arm 1, and the oppositeend of" the arm 81 is providedwith an opening for receiving the free endof the guide rod 83, thefixed end 84 of which guide rod 83 is pivotallysecured to the side wall 19 of the hopper 10. The expensive spring 85 iscoiled about its guide rod 83,to bias the arm 81 to move'the shaft 20 ofthe pin wheel 12 toward the carding roll 11. The stop 86 servesto limitthe throw of the arm 81 under action of its spring 85.

The idler pulley 82 is driven by the belt 87 driven by the pulley 88fixed on the shaft 180! the carding roll 11, and the pulley 89 fixedonthe shaft 31' of the paddle wheel 81 is driven'by the belt 90 from thepulley 82, and similarly the belt 91 driven from the pulby 88 drives thepulley 92 fixed on the shaft 20 of the pin wheel 12. The driving of thebelts 90, 91 is preferably by meaneof sets of doubled pulleysrespectively securedto one another, to provide a single belt for eachpulley of the respective sets. The movement 0 the arm 81 and therewiththe movement of the wheel 12 late nono erative relation with its cardingroll 11 is efiected by the solenoid 75 when excited'by electricalcurrent as above described by an suitable means, such as the core 93 ofthe so enoid 75 being pivotally conv nected to the arm 81 as at thelocation 94.

"The return of the pin wheel 12 to its operative position, and a similarmovement of the paddle wheel 31, as above indicated, ensues solenoid 7 5upon the breaking of the circuit by the contact 70 on the scale beam 36being moved from engagement with the contact 78 when the tobaccocontents of a filled compartr' ment of the scalepan 32 has beendeposited upon the apron 46 and actuated by the spring 85. as abovestated.

Thecarrying outof'my invention will be understood from the foregoing. Itwill be perceived, however, that upon excitatiou of the solenoid 7'5.arising u on the closure of the electrical circuit by t e tipping of thescale beam 36 when a compartment of the scale beam pan 32has beenfilled. A short interval drops into the compartment, including its asasage past the paddle wheel 31, thereby ad ing 1 to the content'of thecompartment of the scale pan 3? beyond the weight determined by the"setting of scale weight33. and such additional weight is compensated bysetting the scale weight 33 toti the scale beam 36 at a positioncorrespo'n ingly less than the predeter-' mined content by weight forthe respective deposits of carded tobacco on the "apron 46.

It will be observed that the interval of time required to fill acompartment is less than the interval of time between the instants oftripping of the tripped member 38.

. Itwill be understood that the apparatus above described may be variedin arrangement as will appear clearly to those skilled in the art uponunderstanding my invention. Preferably, the apparatus affords thecontinuous operation of the carding mechanism notwithstanding theinterruption of the stream of carded'tobacco and thereby maintain thecarding mechanism in primed conditionto effect the restoration of thestream of cardedtobacco to the weighing device sub stantiully instantlyupon the pin wheel or equivalent element being resorted to its operativeposition. The apparatus also preferably provides for relativelyincreased number of deposits perlength of the apron or equivas lent andcorrespondingly relatively decreased spacing betweenthe deposits on theapron.

Whereas, I have described my invention by refercnce to specific formsthereof, it will be f understood that many changes andmodific ations maybe made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lso

' t am a mama length of the cigarette paper forproducing' cigarettes ofuniformpredetermined content of tobacco by weight per unit 'lengthfwhich comprises weighing the c'arded cigarette tobacco, distributingtheweighed lcardediito l' travel of" said conveyorfand distributing to Ibacco substantially *uni formly' on ai suitable ing the carded tobaccofrom such feeding feeding apron as masses separated from one another,each mass extending at an angle to the direction of travel tr suchfeeding apron, maintainingthe travelgof such fe'eding'a'pron in thedirection. ofits length substantially uniformly and inc'lusivegoftheiperiods of depositing ofsuch masses upon such feeding apron, andsubstantially continuously {feedqapron to the length of the cigarettepaper.}'

cigarettes of uniform predetermined content of tobacco by weight perunit length, which comprises weighingl the cardedjcigarette tobacco insuccessive;substantially equal a amounts respectively? distributing iithe weighed carded ftobacco; substantially funiformly on asuitable'f'eedingapronas masses separated from one anotherfeachmass-ektending at 'an anglejto the direction of tra vel of such feedingapron, maintaining the travel of such feeding apron in thedirection'ofits length substantially uniformly and inclusive of the periods ofdepositing of such masses upon such feeding, apromfantl "Substantiallycontinuously feeding the cardedtobaceo from such feeding aprontot-he'length of theicigarette paper. i 1 3. The method" ofifeedingtobaccogto; a length of-the cigarette paperfor producing cigarettes ofuniform predetermined content of tobacco by weight per unit'length,which comprises weighing the/carded cigarette tobacco in successivesubstantially 1 equal amounts respectively, distributingthe respec tiveWeighed amounts on'aisuitable feeding apron as masses separated from oneanother, each mass extending at an angle to the 'directlon of travel ofsuch feeding apron, malntaining the travel of such feedingapronin thedirection of its length substantially uniform and inclusive of'theperiods of depositing of such masses upon such feeding apron,- anddistributing to the cigarette paper from the conveyor the tobacco insubstantially uniform weight per unit length of cigarette t paper bywithdrawing carded tobacco simul taneously from a plurality of saidseparated masses.

4. The method 'of feeding tobacco to a length of the cigarrette paperfor producing cigarettes of uniform, predetermined content of tobacco byweight per unit length vhich comprises Weighing the carded cigarettetobacco in successive substantially equal amounts respectively,distributing the respec- "'.0arded' tobacco in substantially uniformweightper unit length of cigarette paper "withdrawing carded tobaccofrom said conveyor in adirection substantially the direction of travelof said conveyor.

5, The method of feeding tobacco lengthof the! cigarette paper forproducing I cigarettes of uniform predetermined content of tobacco byweight per unit length, which 2. The method of feeding tobacco to lengthofthe cigarette" paper for producing fjam'ountsrespectively,distributing the respective weighed. amounts on a suitableconveyor 'tive weighed jamounts 'o'na suitable conveyor in "spacedeposits th n,' a h of i spaced deposits being deposited onsaid con- 1veyor'fas a segre'gatedmasseach mass having a lengthhsu'bstantial'lygreater than its breadth, thefdire'ction of length of each massextendinglatan anglej'to 'the direction of a the cigarette paper fromthe conveyor the comprises weighing thecarded cigarette tobacco" insuccessive substantially equal in "spaced deposits thereon, each of saida length:- substantially greater than its breadth, the direction oflength ofeachmalss extending at an angle ;to the direction of travel ofsaid conveyor, imparting asubstantially un'form travel to said conveyor,withdrawing the carded tobacco from said'con 've'yo'r tothe length(if-cigarette paper in the "direction of traveljof said conveyonandfdist-ributing tothe cigarette paperfrom the con veyor the tobacco insubstantially uniform 6;. The method 0f feeding tobacco to of tobaccobyweight'perunit length, which 7 t. ,c weight per unit length of cigarettepaper "lengthof the cigarette paper for producing;

cigarettesof uniform predetermined content com riseswci hin the cardedci arettetoo A, t r t o respectively, j distributing the t bacco insuccessive, substantially; uniform amounts weighed carded tobaccosubstantiallyuni foi'mlyfon alsuitableconveyor as masses segregated fromone another, each mass having a length substantially "greater "than itswidth the fdirlectionof lengthof each mass "extendingat an angleto th'edirction of travel of the conveyor andfeeding the carded tobacco fromthe conveyorto alength of cigarette paper by withdrawing tobaccosimultaneous from a plurality ofsuch'segregated masses, 7

7. The method of feeding tobacco "toga 1 length of the cigarette paperfor producing cigarettes of uniform predetermined content of tobacco byweight per unit length, which amounts respectively, distributing therecomprises weighing the carded cigarette to- 'speetive weighedlamountson a suitable con- 7 conveyor as segregated masses, each mass having alength substantially greater than its 1 width, the directionof length ofeachxm'ass extending at an angle to the direction of ,amounts res 7 acco, from the conveyor to the {cigarette Weiby withdrawing tobaccosimultaneous-s 1 roma plurality of such segregated masses ma directionsubstantially that of the travel ofsaid conveyor. 7 t 8. i length of thecigarette pa )er for producing arettes of uniform pre eterminedcontent9. 0 comprises weighing the carded, cigarette tobacco in successive,substantially uniform ctively, distributing the respectwo we he amountson a suitableconveyor in space deposits thereon, each mass having al ensubstantially greater than its width, the direction of length of eachmass beingat an, angle to the direction of travel of the conveyor, anddistributing to the cigarette paper from the conveyor the tobacco insubstantial- 1y uniform wewht per unitlength of cigarette paper byFeeding the tobacco from the conveyor to the cigarette paper bywithdrawing simultaneouslyfrom a pluralit of such segregated masses in adirection su stautially that of the travel of the conveyor,

9. The, combination of a mechanism for carding tobacco including acarding roll and a pin Wheel, the in wheel controlling the amount ofthecar ed tobacco delivered from the cardingroll, a Weighing device, meansp 10. The combination of a mechanism for carding tobacco including acarding roll'and 1 a, pin wheel, the in wheel controlling the a amountof the car ed tobacco delivered from the'carding roll, a weighingdevice, means for moving the pin wheel into and. out of oper- V ativerelation with the carding roll to there-' bycreate and interrupt thestream of carded tobacco delivered from the carding mechanism, meanscontrolled by the weighing device for operating said pin wheel movingmeans, a conveyor for receivingthe amounts I of tobacco, weighed by saidweighingdevice and means for delivering the amounts received by saidconveyor in weight equalized distribution to the cigarette paper. 7

11. The combination of a mechanism for carding tobacco including acarding roll and a pin wheel, the pin wheelcontrolling the amount of thecarded tobacco delivered from The method of feeding tobacco to aperiphery and having a length substantially" tobacco by weightper unitlength, which edg width, the direction oflen for moving the pin wheelinto and out of optobacco delivered from the carding mechamam, meanscontrolled by thewe' hing dev ce for operatmg saidpm whee moving means,a} conveyor for receiving the amounts of tobacco .weighedby saidweighing' device andmeans for delivering the amounts received by saidconveyor in weight equalised distribution to thec garette pa er, saiddeliye I meanecomprismga roll aving pins dlstrlhuted substantiallyuniformly on its rom one edge of the conveyor to the opposite e andasecondroll having delivering pins on hery and having a length subon itslat of said first-named delivery stantia y t roll.

12, The method of carding tobacco to a length of the cigarette pa er forproducing c" 'rettes of umform pre etermined content c tobaccoby weightper unit length, which comprises'weighing the carded cigarette to baccoin successive, substantially uniform amounts respectively, distributingthe respective weighed amounts on a suitable conveyor in space depositsthereon, each deposit having a length substantially reater than its 1?of each deposit being at an angle to the. irection of travel of theconveyor, distributing the tobacco from the conveyor to the cigarettepaper in substantially uniform weight per unlt length of cigarettepaperby iniiparting a substantially uniform travel to sai conveyor and byfeeding the tobacco from, the conveyor to the cigarette paper bywithdrawing simultane-. ously from a plurality such segregated deposits.

In testimony whereof I have signed this cification this. 18th day ofAugust 1925. j WILLIAM F; GRUPE;

the carding rolha weighing device, means for moving the pin wheel intoand out of 01;

erative relation with the carding roll to therelan

